FROM THE ARCHIVES: WOMEN’S SOCCER GOLDEN AT OCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
A look back at the first time the women's soccer program won consecutive indoor soccer titles.
March 23, 2000
The lady Hawks were a perfect 4-0 in the tournament which was held March 17-18 and surrendered only two goals in what turned out to be a typical flawless performance by the navy blue and gold. The Hawks defeated a very tough St. Lawrence Vikings (Kingston) team 1-0 in the gold medal game.
The lone goal of the game came from Humber co-captain and All-Canadian mid-fielder Adriana Cataldo, who also captured MVP honours for the tournament. Cataldo left the crowd in awe with the breathtaking top corner goal mid-way through the match. But perhaps the most intriguing thing about Cataldo’s performance was that she was playing with two broken bones in her right wrist, and was sporting a cast.
The injury occurred during the Hawks’ second match of the tournament against the Nipissing Lakers, a game in which Humber won 4-1. Lakers’ defender Emma Spivey unintentionally fouled Cataldo, who fell awkwardly on her right side.
At the hospital that night Cataldo discovered her bones were broken, one in an odd place. Doctors, Humber trainers, as well as the Hawks coaching staff thought it would be best for Cataldo not to play for the remainder of the tournament.
The Hawks squared off against rival St. Clair Saints in the semi-finals. Cataldo dressed for the match but wasn’t expected to play. But once the Hawks fell behind 1-0 on an early goal by Saints striker Misty Findlay, Cataldo entered the game.
The Hawks immediately stepped up their game and intensity level.
In what was believed to be the gutsiest, most inspirational story of the tournament, Cataldo scored two scintillating goals to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.
Hawks striker Joanna Vitale added the insurance marker later on in the contest and finished the tournament with four goals.
“At first I wasn’t going to play. I thought about it for a long time and slept on it. The following morning when I woke up, it was like ‘I want to play.’ I told myself that is I protect myself and play cautiously, I would be okay,” Catado said.
“The way this team works, is that we are not a complete team if the odd player is out. We’re like a puzzle. If someone isn’t in the lineup,that means the puzzle is not fully complete and they are the missing piece. Everyone plays a significant role on this team and does an amazing job doing it,” said Cataldo.
Hawk’s forward Filomena Aprile, who played in goal for the tournament said Cataldo showed a lot of heart and character by playing with such a serious injury.
“If I was in her position I would be very hesitant and scared to play. She showed tremendous heart and worked very hard. She gave it 110 per cent.”
The Hawks, who opened the tournament by defeating the George Brown Huskies 4-0, followed by the romp over the Lakers, played a near perfect brand of football with crisp touch-and-go passes and ball control.
And they did this all without a solid goalkeeper. Aprile played between the pipes for Humber giving up two goals in four games. Starting keeper Amanda Firth suffered an injury to her wrist a week prior to the provincial tournament at the team’s final practice, and was unable to compete.
“I’ve played in goal many times before, so I was confortable playing. I wanted to do what was best for the team and do whatever it took to win. I also knew that our defence was going to play very effectively and not give the opposing team big chances to score on me, and forcing me to make the big saves,” Aprile added.
“When it came down to just controlling and maintaining the ball, players like Susan (Wilson), Claudia (Marmo), Sandra (Troiani), and Annabella (Lopes) played excelled sound defence.”
Head coach Mauro Ongaro said that Aprile did a fantastic job filing in goal for the injured Firth and that the team in was up to the challenge yet again.
“This was an absolutely excellent performance by the entire team. Fil (Filomena) played fantastic for us and we couldn’t be more pleased with her. The girls showed that during the games against St. Clair and St. Lawrence, that even though they were injured, sore or tired, they can gut it out,” Ongaro added.
“I think defensively, we were at the top of our game, but in tournaments like these, there is no recognition for it,” Ongaro added.
The other Hawks coach, Vince Pileggi, said that both gold medals were sweet and winning it two years in a row was even sweeter.
“I believe we are only the third women’s team ever to win back-to-back championships, and the first team to win provincial gold in both the outdoor and indoor season, so this is very exciting for us,” Pileggi said. “That’s a credit to the girls on this team, because a couple of years ago, no one knew about Humber College.”
Pileggi summed the entire season with one word, “Incredible.”
“We never get tired of winning championships, especially with the time and effort these girls have put in over the past three years. That just foes to show we will walk the talk when we have to and strive for that one last goal, the National championship.”
